Regional News of Sunday, 23 November 2014

Source: Mohammed Saani Ibrahim- The Accra Times

Masara N' Arziki Donates Towards 2014 Farmers Day

The DCE ,left receiving the items of the Association’s leadership

As part of preparations to Mark the 2014 farmers day celebrations, Masara N' Arziki Farmers Association has donated farm inputs worth GHS 7,100 to some regional Directorates of the Ministry of food and Agriculture[MOFA], ahead of the event.
The gesture which has been consistent over the past 6years, comprised of Matabi knapsack sprayers for onward distribution to 20 districts within the three Northern Regions under their operational areas.
The durable user friendly machines guarantees effective spraying of plants. Beneficiaries will also receive yearly free servicing by Wienco Ghana Limited
Presenting the items in Tamale, the leadership of Masara N' Arziki farmers Association, hinted that it was in line with the Association's corporate social responsibility[CSR] to support the laudable occasion. Adding that, it was in the best interest of their outfit to support activities geared at improving the fortunes of farmers.
They also appealed to members of the Association and farmers in the country at large to be hardworking and remain focus in enhancing food security in Ghana.





In his response, the District Chief Executive [DCE] of Sisala West District Assembly, one of the beneficiary districts, Mr. Moses Luri applauded the association for its continues support to farmers in the area. He expressed his office’s commitment in complementing the Association’s efforts in bettering the living conditions of farmers in the district, adding, ‘’it is a step in the right direction’’.
He also thanked the leadership of Masara N' Ariziki for their zeal in supporting his office in the area of revenue generation by agreeing to pay 1% tax levy per cost of every bag of maize produced in the area. He however, tasked the Association to consider dialogue in addressing their grievances.
Until recently the Association was mainly a maize farmers association but has now extended its tentacles to other crops such as cotton, sorghum, soya beans and onions with maize still taking a lion share of production. The largest farmers association operating in the northern regions, undoubtedly is the largest producers of maize in the country with unprecedented record of 1,200,000 bags in the 2013 farming season by a membership of 10, 500 farmers. Membership has since increased to 12,000 according to records of 2013/2014 farming season.
With the aim of supplementing the maize deficit in the country, the formidable association operates around the following objectives, affordable quality inputs supply to members, good bargaining power, guarantee market for members, policies and decisions taken by the farmers themselves, to mention but a few.
The Association this year supplied fertilizer to its members at unbeatable rate of GHC 85.00 per bag whiles fertilizer sells between GHC 100.00 and GHC110.00 in the market. This is attributed to the strength of belonging to a cooperative union.